FLAG DEFENCE by KC from Casey

[Demonland 73,106]

The Casey Demons unfurled their 2022 premiership flag early on Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields and commenced their campaign to earn the honour of back to back champions in 2023. They did so emphatically beating Footscray by 37 points in a contest they dominated throughout and, but for some wayward kicking for goal early in the piece, they could have determined the issue a lot earlier in the day than during the final term when the Dogs finally hit the wall.

The Demons were forced to make changes to the selected side with Jake Melksham and Adam Tomlinson in Brisbane and Daniel Turner also out. Trent Burgoyne, Max Gregory and Miles Shepherd came into the side to replace them leaving 14 AFL listed players in the side.

Last week against the same club, Casey was listless and struggled to score. This time, the game was played in near perfect conditions with just a slight breeze but the Demons were struggling to find the middle of the big sticks.

James Jordon and Luke Dunstan held sway in the clearance battles but the forwards were missing some easy shots at goal, as reflected in the quarter time score line. The trend continued early in the second term with a couple of behinds added to the score before Josh Schache, Jordon and Dunstan found the goals opening up a 26-point lead. A late Bulldog revival narrowed the margin back to 8 points at half time.

Michael Hibberd was in everything during the second term, Bailey Laurie was coming into his own and Josh Schache was putting his hand up for the likely vacancy caused by the injury to Max Gawn at Melbourne. There were some hints of future forward line strength through Jacob van Rooyen and newcomers Matt Jefferson and Oliver Sestan. Jefferson was winded and came off temporarily after taking a great mark.

The Doggies came hard early in the second half but Casey’s class came to the fore and a flurry of goals to the home team including two in quick succession to Sestan saw them off to a handy three quarter time lead which was stretched to 37 by the final siren.

Sestan finished with three goals while Schache and Andy Moniz-Wakefield scored two each in their team’s impressive start to the season.

Hibberd was the star with 36 disposals and 10 marks. Other strong performers were Dunstan with 29 disposals, seven clearances and a goal, Laurie with 27 possessions and four tackles and Jordon (25 touches, 2 goals).

Schache took a knock to the head and was off after the final break and if cleared of concussion, is a good chance for Melbourne against Sydney on Sunday. Note however, that Schache did not take the ruckwork in this game.

Jacob van Rooyen continues to promise to become a potential point of difference at AFL level with his enthusiasm, leap and versatility. He finished with 19 disposals, 11 marks, six hitouts and a goal and surely must get his chance soon?

James Munro was again a tower of strength amassing 16 tackles while Max Gregory made an excellent 20 touch debut in these ranks.

Next week, the Demons play host to the strong Sydney side with an early start at 11:00am on Sunday.

CASEY DEMONS 1.7.13 4.10.34 10.11.71 13.16.94

FOOTSCRAY VFL 1.1.7 4.2.26 7.5.47 8.9.57

GOALS

CASEY DEMONS Sestan 3 Jordon Moniz-Wakefield Schache  2 Dunstan Grey J Smith van Rooyen

FOOTSCRAY VFL Goater Hannan 2 Clarke Johannisen Khamis McPherson

BEST

CASEY DEMONS Hibberd Jordon Dunstan van Rooyen Laurie Munro

FOOTSCRAY VFL Sullivan McPherson Khamis Craig-Peters Garner Hannan

Statistics

Jack Bell 7 kicks 4 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 22 hit outs 67 dream team points
Jed Adams 6 kicks 1 handball 7 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 33 dream team points
Matt Buntine 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 53 dream team points
Trent Burgoyne 1 behind 2 kicks 4 handballs 6 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 22 dream team points
Paddy Cross 5 kicks 4 handballs 9 disposals 2 marks 1 tackle 34 dream team points
Luke Dunstan 1 goal 20 kicks 9 handballs 29 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 107 dream team points
Max Gregory 12 kicks 8 handballs 20 disposals 9 marks 2 tackles 87 dream team points
George Grey 1 goal 1 behind 4 kicks 5 handballs 9 disposals 3 marks 3 tackles 47 dream team points
Michael Hibberd 23 kicks 13 handballs 36 disposals 10 marks 1 tackle 128. dream team points
Blake Howes 11 kicks 8 handballs 19 disposals 7 marks 5 tackles 90 dream team points
Matt Jefferson 4 behinds 9 kicks 2 handballs 11 disposals 7 marks 2 tackles 66 dream team points
James Jordon 2 goals 2 behinds 13 kicks 12 handballs 25 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 116 dream team points
Bailey Laurie 16 kicks 11 handballs 27 disposals 7 marks 4 tackles 101 dream team points
Andy Moniz-Wakefield 2 goals 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 3 marks 4 tackles 78 dream team points
James Munro 12 kicks 4 handballs 16 disposals 16 tackles 94 dream team points
Josh Schache 2 goals 1 behind 8 kicks 2 handballs 10 disposals 7 marks 60 dream team points
Oliver Sestan 3 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 2 handballs 12 disposals 6 marks 1 tackle 76 dream team points
Miles Shepherd 13 kicks 3 handballs 16 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 71 dream team points
Deaykin Smith 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 2 marks 4 tackles 62 dream team points
Joel Smith 1 goal 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 8 marks 1 tackle 72 dream team points
Roan Steele 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 44 dream team points
Kye Turner 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 78 dream team points
Jacob van Rooyen 1 goal 1 behind 12 kicks 7 handballs 19 disposals 11 marks 2 tackles 6 hit outs 102 dream team points